Big Ten hockey: Buckeyes to begin league play tonight

Friday

Nov 29, 2013 at 12:01 AMNov 29, 2013 at 10:46 AM

The questions have stopped for Travis Statchuk. No longer must the Ohio State senior forward explain what the Central Collegiate Hockey Association is, or why the Buckeyes were members of it rather than the Big Ten.

The questions have stopped for Travis Statchuk.

No longer must the Ohio State senior forward explain what the Central Collegiate Hockey Association is, or why the Buckeyes were members of it rather than the Big Ten.

It never quite made sense to casual observers, to many students or to Statchuk's family and friends in western Canada.

"Not really anyone knew what that was," Statchuk said, referring to the CCHA.

Ohio State's new league doesn't need an introduction. Tonight in Ann Arbor, OSU and Michigan begin play in the inaugural season of Big Ten hockey.

"You look at schools through football," Statchuk said. "Everyone recognizes the teams like Wisconsin, Minnesota, Penn State, Ohio State, all those big-name schools. Obviously, the brand name of the Big Ten is going to be huge."

That's the hope of Big Ten hockey coaches, players and officials, anyway. But until 2010, Big Ten hockey wasn't even a viable option, simply because there weren't enough teams.

Only five Big Ten universities sponsored varsity hockey programs. And, according to conference bylaws, a sports needs at least six member schools for the league to sanction a championship.

So when Penn State announced in September 2010 that it would elevate its club team to Division I, starting with the 2012-13 season, a window opened.

Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State were then in the CCHA. Minnesota and Wisconsin played in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. When those schools arranged to leave their respective conferences, Big Ten hockey was born.

"When you think of Ohio State athletics, you think of the Big Ten," Ohio State coach Steve Rohlik said.

Officials hope to capitalize on the Big Ten's large alumni base scattered across the country. League schools have nearly 5 million alumni and more than 460,000 students, leading all conferences in both categories, a Big Ten spokesman said.

"One of the benefits is the broader Big Ten fan (base)," said Big Ten associate commissioner Jennifer Heppel, who oversees hockey. "We can capitalize on that, bring them into hockey. They may not have been a college hockey fan before."

Television could attract those coveted casual fans. The Big Ten Network will televise 27 regular-season games this season, including eight consecutive Friday night doubleheaders from Jan. 10 to Feb. 28 and the Big Ten tournament in March.

Network president Mark Silverman described the new hockey programming as a chance "to grow fan interest" among nearly 100 million viewers in the United States and Canada who either subscribe or have access to the network.

"Certain markets already have rabid hockey fan bases," Silverman said. "And what we feel we'll be able to do is, if you're a fan of a school - on a Friday with no basketball on - we can offer hockey and generate a whole new legion of hockey fans who are going to root for their school."

Talk about growth for hockey already has included talk about expansion.

At Big Ten hockey media day in September, Minnesota coach Don Lucia suggested the addition of two teams.

"Maybe this opens up new avenues if someone is willing to add hockey," the Gophers' 15th-year coach said. "Hopefully, the Big Ten can grow. If we can get up to eight teams, I think it would be great for our conference."